CHAPTER XV. 



A Disturbed Family — The Chitons — How to Prepare 

 Specimens — Description of the Common Species — 

 The Mossy Chiton — Katherina — Butterfly Shells 

 — Less Common Species of the Coat-of-Mail Shells. 



THERE are very odd creatures under the stones 

 which lie along the rim of the ocean. If you 

 go down at low tide and turn the rocks over, one by 

 one, you will be surprised at the number of singular 

 beings which stare up at you in blank amazement, 

 and then rush away into obscure places, as fast as 

 their ten or fourteen legs will carry them. Others 

 cannot run, but in sheer helplessness wait for your 

 kind decision to do them no harm, and their ver}' 

 inertness appeals to your sympathies. While the 

 saucy crabs waste no time in ceremonies, and the 

 sea-worms creep away as fast as possible, the poor 

 mollusks can only cling to the rock for protection, or 

 curl themselves into the smallest space and the most 

 secure condition which their instinct can dictate. 



When you visit the seaside you will want to see all 

 these harmless little inhabitants of the ocean, and 

 among them you will probably find some specimens 

 of our next group of mollusks, the Chitons^ Ki'-tons. 

 The anatomy of these animals is similar to that of 

 the Limpets, but they seem less highly developed, 

 are more sluggish, and commonly live under stones, 

 away from all scenes of activity. 



